Sunnah · 40 Hadith
40 Hadith of an-Nawawi
Imam an-Nawawi’s classical collection of 40 foundational hadith — every Muslim is traditionally encouraged to know them. Search, expand, reflect.
40 of 40 hadiths
Frequently asked
What is the 40 Hadith of an-Nawawi?
It’s a classical curation of 40 (technically 42) foundational hadith assembled by Imam Yahya an-Nawawi (d. 1277 CE / 676 AH). The collection covers the most essential teachings of the Prophet ﷺ — intentions, the pillars of Islam, sincerity, character, and rulings — and is traditionally one of the first hadith collections every Muslim is encouraged to memorise.
Is this collection authentic?
Yes. Every hadith in the 40 is rated sahih (authentic) or hasan (good) by the major hadith scholars. The most common sources are Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, supplemented by Sunan Abi Dawud, Jami’ at-Tirmidhi, and Sunan Ibn Majah.
How is the English translation here different from other sites?
We use a public-domain rendering paraphrased from the widely-circulated Ezzedin Ibrahim & Denys Johnson-Davies translation, lightly edited for readability. For the most precise scholarly translations, consult Sunnah.com or the printed editions.
Where can I find the Arabic original of each hadith?
Click any hadith to expand it — the Arabic text and full source attribution are shown beneath the translation when available. For the complete chains of narration (isnad), refer to Sunnah.com.
Can I cite these in writing?
Yes. The 40 Hadith of an-Nawawi is one of the most widely-cited collections in Islamic literature. When citing, give the hadith number (e.g., "Hadith 1 of an-Nawawi’s 40") and the underlying source (e.g., "narrated in Bukhari and Muslim").
How long does it take to memorise the 40?
A common pace is one hadith per week — about 10 months to memorise all 40. Many Islamic study circles structure entire courses around this collection, with extended commentary on each hadith.